ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP:MIDDLESBROUGH boss Gordon Strachan insisted his side had played well despite losing 1-0 to Cardiff yesterday, their sixth home league defeat of the season.

A record low league crowd of 17,232 watched Boro dominate the first half only to leak a sloppy goal on 61 minutes when a Chris Burke free-kick was allowed to bounce through a crowded area and straight in.

It took Boro’s home record under Strachan to three defeats and one draw with just one goal scored, and the fans made their frustrations heard.

“I don’t think in the overall play we deserved to get beat,” Strachan insisted. “I thought my two central midfielders were excellent, Mark Yeates got voted man of the match and Adam Johnson was always a threat while we were lively up front.”

Meanwhile, manager Chris Hughton expects Andy Carroll to continue to play a major role in Newcastle’s promotion push after he overcame off-the-field problems to star in the Magpies’ draw at Barnsley.

Carroll had been dropped for the clash against Coventry on Wednesday following his arrest over an allegation of assault, but he made an impact straight away on his return to the team, heading on for Kevin Nolan to open the scoring in the sixth minute and setting up substitute Marlon Harewood to score in the 78th.

United were pegged back by equalisers from Emil Hallfredsson and Bobby Hassell, the latter scoring in the last minute.

Sheffield United stretched their unbeaten league run to six games after a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Bramall Lane – with Stephen Quinn claiming one of the goals.

Another Irishman, Roy Keane, kept his feet on the ground after Ipswich finally moved out of the bottom three with only their third win of the season. Jon Stead, Jack Colback and Gareth McAuley secured a 3-1 win over Blackpool.

“We’re out of the bottom three and it’s a relief, when you’ve been there since the start of the season,” said Keane. “But it’s not something we’re proud of. Don’t worry – we won’t be celebrating.”

Second-placed West Brom host QPR tonight.